Officer: Purdue gunman shot, stabbed man

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WANE) – More details about this week’s shooting at Purdue that left a student dead are beginning to emerge. The student arrested in connection to the shooting, 23-year-old Cody Cousins, appeared in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty to murder.

For the first time, NewsChannel 15 learned the victim 21-year-old Andrew Boldt appeared to have been shot and stabbed. A handgun, knife, spent shell casings left all around him along with a trail of bloody footprints.

Although the motive isn’t clear yet, we’ve learned more about how everything unfolded on Purdue’s campus Tuesday. Court doctuments just released Thursday reveal witnesses said a man later identified as Cody Cousins came into a classroom in the basement of the Electrical Engineering building and shot and stabbed teaching assistant Andrew Boldt. Minutes later Officer Kevin Coomey found Cousins sitting on the ground outside of the Electrical Engineering building with his hands behind his head, blood all over his hands and clothes.

Cousins was formally charged with murder Thursday although he has pleaded not guilty. His family was there for his first appearance. Fort Wayne criminal defense attorney and former Allen County Prosecutor Robert Gevers spoke on behalf of the Cousins family: “They are obviously struggling as well our hearts and their hearts are full of compassion and concern for the Purdue family and for the family of Mr. Boldt. We will proceed in providing this young man, Mr. Cousins, the best defense we can.”

Classes resumed Thursday on Purdue’s campus. Purdue Counseling and Psychological Services therapist Marty Green has been talking with students as they deal with the emotional effects. He said although they have clinical service hours, therapists have also been on campus, reaching out to students who may need counseling.

“So we certainly are going out to where people are and providing what we call debriefing and navigating services as they’re managing the tragic event,” Clinical social worker and therapist Marty Green said.

Check out mug shots released to the media by law enforcement officials in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio.

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